Folding Chair, Particularly Folding Child&#39;s Chair

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a folding chair and particularly a folding child&#39;s high chair. The folding chair can be transitioned from an unfolded into a folded position, and comprises a seating surface ( 1 ) and a backrest ( 2 ), and a pair of first supports ( 3 ) supporting the seating surface ( 1 ) and the backrest ( 2 ), and a pair of two supports ( 4 ) connected by a hinge to the first supports ( 3 ). The seating surface ( 1 ) is rotatably disposed about a rotary axis ( 5 ) between the two first supports ( 3 ). The folding chair is characterized in that the backrest ( 2 ) is rotatably disposed about a rotary axis ( 6 ) between the two first supports ( 3 ) and can be displaced at a right angle to said axis ( 6 ), and the backrest ( 2 ) and the seating surface ( 1 ) are connected to each other by a connecting element ( 7 ) joined with a hinge to the seating surface ( 1 ) and the backrest ( 2 ), such that the backrest ( 2 ) and seating surface ( 1 ) are substantially at right angles to each other in a first unfolded position and are substantially parallel to each other and to the first supports ( 3 ) in a second, folded position.

The present invention concerns a folding chair, particularly a child's folding high chair.

Folding mechanisms for chairs are known of in various forms. There is nevertheless a significant risk of pinching, for the user, with many folding mechanisms, or these are complicated and inconvenient. The chairs can often only be carried with difficulty when folded. Moreover, the known folding mechanisms cannot readily be used for children's chairs that, together with a seat, have a foot rest and can preferably also be adjusted in height.

A folding mechanism is known, for example, from DE 21 40 384 A. Here, a seat is held between two pairs of struts, such that it can rotate, between a pair of struts, about a connecting axis. The seat is slidably held in the other pair of struts by pins, such that the seat can be folded upwards, whereby this at the same time actuates folding of the struts. It is nevertheless difficult to carry such a chair, since the seat tends to fold back downwards, whereupon the chair folds out. To carry it, the folded chair would therefore have to be interlocked or latched, or be raised at the seat in order to prevent it from unfolding.

Further height-adjustable chairs are known from the state of the art, for example from DE 24 21 259 A, that can, in particular, be used for child's chairs. Such chairs can easily be adjusted to the size of the user and, for example, grow with the child, and can also be used for adults. The chairs concerned do not however fold and are therefore cumbersome with regard to carrying and storing them away.

A foldable chair is known from DE 100 51 261 A1. The chair described can be folded, by means of a complex folding mechanism, such that space is saved. Nevertheless, because of its complexity, there are multiple risks of pinching in the chair and it is inconvenient in use.

The purpose of the present invention is to create a chair that is easy and without the risk of injury to open and fold, and that can easily be carried when folded.

In accordance with the present invention, this aim is achieved by a chair having the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention are described in the dependant claims.

The folding chair in accordance with the invention has a seat and a backrest, together with a first and a second pair of supports. The first supports support the backrest and the seat, while the second supports are arranged such that they articulate on the first supports and support these when opened out. The seat is arranged such that it can rotate between the two first supports. The backrest can likewise rotate, about an axis between the two first supports and can, additionally, be displaced perpendicularly to this axis. Backrest and seat are connected to each other by means of a connection element that articulates on the seat and the backrest. Backrest and seat are thereby essentially at right-angles to each other in a first, opened position, and thereby allow for sitting. In a second, folded position, the seat and the backrest are aligned essentially parallel to each other and to the first supports. The folding chair can thereby be easily carried and needs a minimum amount of space for storage.

Suitable stops can favourably be provided, to determine the opened position of the seat and/or of the backrest.

So that the folding chair in accordance with the invention can be used as a child's chair, it can additionally have a foot rest. The foot rest can preferably be arranged likewise the seat such that it can rotate between the two first supports, and be connected with the connection element. The foot rest can then, when the chair is folded up, be brought, together with the seat in the folded up position, into a position essentially parallel to the backrest and the seat.

In order to allow a height adjustment of the child's chair, the latter can, in a preferred embodiment of it, have several releasable attachment points for the seat and/or the footrest on the first support and/or on the connection element. Several such attachment points can, for example, be disposed at regular intervals along the supports. The connection element comprises the corresponding attachment points, for suitable alignment of the seat and/or the footrest. The attachment can, for example, be made by means of screws, push-on connectors, bolts or clips, or in any other suitable way. The folding chair can thereby be adapted to any body size, and at the same time retains its foldability.

The connection element can favourably be connected to the second supports. This can be done by means of a connection crosspiece that connects the two second supports in an appropriate place. The connection element can be connected to this connection crosspiece in the folded up or in the opened position, or in both positions. In this way, the folding chair can be fixed in the given position and cannot either open out or fold at an unwanted moment.

In a particularly favourable embodiment, the connection between the connection element and the second supports is permanent and can slide over from a first, into a second, position. The first position can here be the opened out position of the chair, with the second position corresponding to the folded position of the chair. The connection can preferably be locked in the first and/or the second position.

In one advantageous embodiment of the chair in accordance with the invention, the chair has rollers on the lower end of the first supports. The rollers preferably only extend beyond the first supports at the front rim. This means the chair is secure in the opened position, but, with the chair in the folded position, the chair can be tilted and therefore be rolled on the rollers.

The invention is explained in detail below in connection with the enclosed illustrations. The embodiments shown in the illustrations merely represent examples of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection defined by the claims. All indications of direction are to be understood in relation to the normal position in which a chair stands. The illustrations are merely schematic and intended to illustrate the invention.

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a folding chair, in accordance with the invention, in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the folding chair of FIG. 1, in accordance with the invention, in its folded state;

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the folding chair of FIG. 2, partly folded;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a folding chair, in accordance with the invention, designed as a child's chair with an added folding footrest, folded out;

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the folding chair of FIG. 4, partially folded.

FIG. 1 shows a folding chair, in accordance with the invention, in the opened out position. The chair has a seat 1, a backrest 2, a first pair of supports 3 and a second pair of supports 4. The seat 1 and the backrest 2 are mounted between the first supports 3. The second supports 4 can rotate about an axis 8 attached to the first supports 3 and support the latter, in the opened out position. In the opened out position, the first supports 3 are inclined at an angle of approx. 60° to the floor. The second supports 4 are thus disposed on the first supports 3, such that they support the chair securely in the opened out position and can be folded tight up against the first supports 3. Their angle depends on the point of articulation 8 on the first supports. If the point of articulation of the second supports is approx. at a point at ¾ of the height of the first supports 3, then the second supports 4 are preferably at an angle of approx. 70 to 80° in relation to the floor.

The seat 1 is mounted between the two first supports 3, such that it can rotate about an axis 5.

The backrest is likewise mounted such that it can rotate about an axis 6 between the two first supports 3, whereby the backrest 2 can additionally shift, perpendicularly to the spindle 6, in the direction of the arrow as shown. The latter can be implemented by opposing pins (not shown in FIG. 1), that engage in guide grooves 9 on the sides of the backrest 2.

The backrest 2 and the seat 1 are connected to each other by a connection element 7. The connection element 7 engages, on the one side, on the lower edge of the backrest 2 and, on the other side, on the rear rim of the seat 1.

In the folded position, the backrest 2 is in its lowest position, that is, the pins of the first supports are on the upper stop of the guide grooves 9. The backrest 2 is almost vertical. Through the connection element 7, the backrest 2 is connected to the seat 1, such that the seat is horizontal. In this opened out position, the connection element 7 lies roughly parallel to the first supports 3.

To fold it, the chair is engaged at the handle opening 10 in the backrest 2 and lifted. The backrest 2 is thereby pulled upwards along its guide grooves 9. By means of the connection element 7, the rear rim of the seat 1 is also lifted and the seat 1 is turned about its rotation axis 5. In addition to the displacement, the backrest 2 is turned about the rotation axis 6. In the folded position, the backrest 2, the connection element 7 and the seat 1 lie roughly in a line along the first supports 3. The second supports 4 can be folded, about their rotation axis 8, onto the first supports 3, such that the folding chair is flat in its folded state, and can be stored using the minimum amount of space.

Given the folding chair's design, the sitting position is automatically prepared, between the seat and the backrest, through the effect of gravity or when under load. There can, however, also be stops for the seat and/or the backrest, in order to define the final position of the separate parts.

The folding chair can be put into the folded position, and held there, by being pulled upwards at the handle opening 10. With this, there is no risk of the chair folding out of itself when it is being carried.

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a folding chair from FIG. 1, in accordance with the invention. The seat 1 and the backrest 2 are attached between the first supports 3. The seat 1 is mounted such that it can turn about its rotation axis 5. The backrest 2 is held by two pins 6, which engage in a groove 9 in the sides of the backrest 2, between the first supports 3. This gives rise to an axis of rotation. At the same time, the backrest 2 can slide upwards along the grooves.

The first supports 3 are supported by second supports 4, at an angle of approx. 60°. The second supports 4 are arranged such that they can swivel on the first supports 3, around a rotation axis 8.

The lower area of the backrest 2 and the rear area of the seat 1 are connected to each other by a connection element 7.

FIG. 3 shows the chair, of FIGS. 1 and 2, partly folded. The parts that are hidden, in this view of the first supports 3, are represented by solid lines as well for better illustration.

To fold the chair, the backrest 2 is pulled upwards. It moves along upwards, guided in the groove 9 by the pins 6 of the first supports 3, and is thereby aligned essentially parallel to the first supports 3. At the same time, the seat 1, which is connected to the backrest 2 by the connection element 7, turns around the rotation axis 5 and comes to be aligned essentially parallel to the backrest 2 and the first supports 3. Backrest 2, seat 1 and connection element 7, require the minimum amount of space in this folded position, and fit within the outline form of the first supports 3.

The second supports 4 can be folded in the direction of arrow A, so that the folding chair can be carried and stored. To carry the folding chair, it can be turned, in the direction of arrow B, over the end 13 of the first supports 3. It can then be rolled on the rollers 14 that, in this position, extend over the ends 13 of the supports 3. There is no risk that the folding chair will fold out while it is being carried. The folded position can be maintained by pulling upwards on the backrest 2.

FIG. 4 shows a chair that is basically identical to the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but designed as a child's high chair. For this, the seat 1 is arranged higher and the chair has an additional footrest 11. The backrest 2 is again connected to the seat 1 by a connection element 7, which in turn is also connected to the rear area of the footrest 11.

The height of the chair can be adjusted, so that it can be set to any size of the child or person sitting in it. For this, there are various attachment points 15 on the first supports 3 and corresponding attachment points 16 on the connection element 7. Footrest 11 and seat 1 can, at these attachment points 16, be releasably connected with the first supports 3 on the one hand, and with the connection element 7 on the other. This can be done by means of screws, by clamping, locking bolts or in any other suitable way.

By way of an example, FIG. 4 also shows how the second supports can be connected to the connection element 7. For this, a slideway 12 is arranged in the underside of the connection element 7. The second supports 4 are appropriately attached to the underside of the connection element 7. The second supports are attached such that they slide in this slideway 12. This can advantageously be done by a connection crosspiece (not shown), between the two supports 4, that engages in the slideway 17 by means of a bolt. If the folding chair is folded and the connection element 7 moves in the direction of the first supports 3, then the second supports 4 are, at the same time, folded, about their rotation axis 8, in the direction of the first supports 3. In each case, there is an indentation, in which the bolt can lock, in the slideway 17, for the folding chair's opened and folded positions.

FIG. 5 shows the chair of FIG. 4 in a folded position similar to that of FIG. 3. Again, pulling upwards on the backrest 2 applies a tension on the rear ends of the seat 1 and of the footrest 11 providing for a swiveling of the seat 1 and of the footrest 11 into the outline space of the first supports 3. In the normal position of the seat 1 and footrest 11, it is possible to have a parallel alignment within the outline space of the first supports 3. It is nevertheless clear that if the seat 1 and the footrest 11 are close together, there may be an overlap between the two parts, such that is it not possible for all parts to be aligned fully parallel to each other. This is however not necessary in order to achieve the advantages of the solution in accordance with the present invention. An essentially parallel arrangement is fully sufficient to achieve a space saving folded up position. By an adept choice of attachment points, and of the form of the attachment points, a person skilled in the art can, in a simple way, find an optimal arrangement of the parts in the folded state.

PARTS REFERENCE LIST

-   1 seat -   2 backrest -   3 first supports -   4 second supports -   5 seat swivel spindle -   6 backrest rotation axis/pin -   7 connection element -   8 axis between first and second supports -   9 guide groove -   10 handle opening -   11 footrest -   12 connection between connection element and second supports -   13 lower end of a first support -   14 roller -   15 attachment point on a first support -   16 attachment point on the connection element 

1. Folding chair that can be carried over from an opened into a folded position, with a seat and a backrest and a pair of first supports, which bear the seat and the backrest, and a second pair of supports that articulate on the first supports, whereby the seat is disposed between the two first supports such that said seat can swivel about a rotation axis, the folding chair comprising: the backrest is disposed such that it can swivel about a rotation axis running between the two first supports, and can move perpendicularly to this axis, and the backrest and the seat are connected to each other by a connection element that is hinged to the seat and the backrest such that the backrest and the seat are, in a first opened position, essentially perpendicular to each other and, in a second, folded position, are essentially parallel to each other and to the first supports.
 2. Folding chair in accordance with claim 1, wherein the folding chair has a footrest.
 3. Folding chair in accordance with claim 2, wherein the footrest is disposed between the two first supports, such that it can swivel about a rotation axis, and is connected to the connection element.
 4. Folding chair in accordance claim 1, wherein the first supports and the connection element have several releasable attachment points for the seat and/or the footrest.
 5. Folding chair in claim 1, wherein the connection element (7) can be connected to the second supports (4).
 6. Folding chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the connection (12) between the connection element (7) and the second supports (4) is permanent and sliding, in order to enable a linked relative movement between the connection element (7) and the second supports (4).
 7. Folding chair in claim 5, wherein the connection (12) can be locked in the opened and/or the folded position.
 8. Folding chair in claim 1, wherein the first supports (3) have rollers (14) on their lower ends (13).
 9. Folding chair in accordance with claim 8, wherein the rollers (14) only project forwards beyond the ends (13) of the first supports (3). 